Well, it's that time of year again, folks: Google has just announced the official registration date for the 2013 I/O conference, and it looks like you better be on the ready bright an early at 7AM PT on Wednesday, March 13th. Like last year, the tickets will go for $900 for general attendees and $300 for academic. Of course, a Google Wallet account is required to pay, and a Google+ account is also requisite.

It looks like the company is shooting for May 15-17 this year, so mark you calendars. Oh, and if you plan on trying to get a ticket – you better be ready, because they usually sell out in minutes.

In a way, I almost want Google to stop giving away stuff because it encourages people to invade the conference to get "the latest thing" when they have no interest in development. It blocks real developers from getting in and (in that super hyperbolic way) hurts the quality of apps coming out for Android. It would be great if developers weren't fighting with non-devs to get in.

John O’Connor

While I believe there should be some limit to general population attendees Google could differentiate by giving away a reference device for the developers separate from what they give all attendees. There may very well be budding developers/programmers in the general population who may be sitting on the next big idea and such a conference can be a catalyst for their foray into the field or least into Android development.

It would make sense to have a confirmed developer pre registration prior to general sale. I myself have not yet began programming with Android specific SDK's but it is something I have a genuine interest in. The giveaways are an added bonus of course. I honestly don't believe the uninterested will pay the $900 dollars if they are not going to participate in any of the important aspects of the conference. That would be just silly, like flying to Tahiti to walk around a costco that is having a grand opening for authentic tahitian food samples. Probably a bad analogy, but I dont believe Google's aim is for exclusion of potential. Not many , if any, companies strive for pie in the sky ideas and innovation near regardless of cost to the bottom line.

Every success story of much merit is generally preceded by many failures.

You've obviously missed the news. Last year there was going to be a test for all attendees that was intended to keep out non-devs, but it never happened for some reason. At least, I never heard a stated reason. The reason Google gave for the test was that there were several people attending I/O the previous year who went to watch the keynote (if they even got into the room), picked up their gadgets, and never came back. One of the Googlers even described a group of 4 or 5 guys he ran into at a bar after the first day finished. He struck up a conversation with them because two of the guys were playing with the Galaxy Tab 10.1. None of them were developers, but they had all grabbed tickets right away.

The ticket prices have never been far from that of the gadgets they've given out and there are a ton of looky-loos and fan boys that are super excited to just see the keynote in person. To them, it's like going to the Super Bowl. Thanks to last year's stunts during the two-day keynote and the gadgets pricing out to slightly more than the ticket price, I honestly expect this year to be worse.

Zoosh

I'm wondering what exactly you need at registration to get the academic pricing.

Pretty sure you can just buy the ticket with academic pricing but you need a valid student ID at the door. This is from the help section of last year's I/O

"We do offer a limited number of tickets at a discounted rate of $300 for Academia (students, professors, faculty/staff). We will require a current school ID or other proof that you’re qualified to receive this special rate when you check in at the conference. Without qualifying proof, you won’t be admitted to the conference and no refund will be issued. Tickets purchased at regular price cannot later be converted to academic price."

Anyone wanna guess how many minutes it will take for it to be sold out?

Joe Dahle

43 minutes

RitishOemraw

Nice, I'll try to keep this in mind when the exact amount is posted.....Any more people willing to stake their guessing honor in the guessing game of the year!!!??? (at least untill may...I GUESS <-- *hint*hint*See that there.....that's what you ought to do)

RitishOemraw

Close, but not close enough

Mike Reid

0.05

RitishOemraw

No you are doing it all wrong...you got to compensate for the likeliness that the server hosting the sign-up website won't be able to take the load and people get frustrated and some people arriving later might still get a ticket before earlier people.....at least...that would be my advice.

RitishOemraw

See, I told ya so!

paxmos

I would not pay 9 cents to attend the Goo gel i/o...what a rip off!!!!...

I'm with you, I'm really hoping to get in. I've been dying to go and this year is the perfect time to start. I wish they could open up capacity for more people.

Seriously though, the trolls have been really thick this month...

paxmos

No trolling here buster. I am an android user, but a bit frustrated with goo gel

SAI

For the love of god, just say Google. wtf is goo gel? Gel is not pronounced the same way as the "gle" in Google. Gel is that jelly like substance so when you say goo gel, it has a completely different connotation.

paxmos

You are absolutely right. Google it is.

paxmos

Just because I don't agree with this, does not mean that I don't have the freedom to read and comment on an article.

LiamBryant

Yes everybody has the freedom to comment on an article, but not all people should...

paxmos

Including you...

LiamBryant

Good one.

GazaIan

So, a developer intended conference at a high maintenance facility where you're merely guaranteed one or more free products is a rip off? The prices of ANY developer conference is high, and you usually don't get as much out of them than you do with I/O. Not only that, but this conference lasts three days, you get to learn a bunch of things you can use in the development of new applications, and you're given devices that can be used as either dev devices or just take it as a gift. You get the biggest bang for your buck with Google I/O, damn nearly making it a bargain if you ask me.

Last year, attendees were given a Nexus 7, a Nexus Q, and a Galaxy Nexus. At the least, that's $800 at Google's msrp. Extreme bargain.

paxmos

I thank you for a civilized response to my comment, not like a few others gone on a rampage almost immediately trying to silence me just because they don't agree with me. All I said was that I would not pay 9 cents, that is my opinion and look at the responses....Thanks again

heat361

Too bad its going to sell out in 5 seconds :(

Khanh

Will attendees get the new Chrome Pixel!? totally worth it! or X phone..

John O’Connor

probably a no on the pixel.. but I am sure we will see some goodies

shadowx360

There is a typo in the image. "Registration opens *and closes* at 7:00 AM PDT (GMT-7)"

shadowx360

There is a typo in the image. It should say "Registration opens *and closes* on March 13, 2013 at 7:00 AM PDT (GMT-7)"

Scott Standish-Parkin

In regard to the academic pricing, would this include staff who work for public schools?

For the last few years, Google I/O has been held in San Francisco, California at the west hall of the Moscone Event Center. Apple also holds their WWDC conference in the same location. I doubt there will be any changes this year for either conference.